Sorry for the delay, been working on updating the Transcendence wiki and have made some progress with it, check it out when you have the chance as I have updated the links on my page but be sure to copy and paste them and remove the spaces. After that you will find the pages and then the characters.
Really wish Fanfiction would fix the external links for this thing, really wish. But regardless I have everything ready for you this weekend and a nice chapter for everyone to enjoy, even Are We Alone has been updated. So be sure to check it out if you read it.
Review responses at the bottom and I hope you enjoy.
Transcendence
Chapter 34: Fruit of Fertility
Iyeana looked out from the window, she could see the circular plaza around the temple and it was crawling with patrols and Ancients. Hundreds seemed to move around the area and were growing in number every second. The plaza was a hundred meters in diameter and completely in the open, no viable means to enter without being seen.
She scowled as she looked at the tower, no way in without being seen and she had too few warriors to fight through the opposition. Worse yet, her scouts had not reported back and she had not seen or heard from Lelarii or her small squad. She had hoped that they were alright and not lost somewhere in the lower wards or possibly the tunnels; if that was the case there was no telling what trouble they could be in.
"The demons seem to be swarming from it," Codexia remarked, stepping up besides Iyeana and looking out over the rooftops and to the temple.
From it poured out dozens of demons every single moment, from Felguard, to Felhounds and even a few Doomguard. Like a river of red skin and black metal they rushed out and down the largest street of the plaza towards the main highway. This was not something that they could fight; even if most of their army was leaving they continued to appear without end, an endless tide of demons moving in a singular direction.
A tide that would turn on them as soon as they showed themselves, and they would all be washed away within moments of being seen. But luckily they had avoided detection; the demons had not found their hiding space yet. Something they were thankful for, as they could not infiltrate the temple until they found an entrance. But it seemed impossible to do, all sides were guarded, and there appeared to be no means of entry from the ground.
"Lieutenant, we have people coming up the tunnel, it is Lelarii and her squad," a sentry said quietly.
Iyeana got to her feet and left the room, moving towards the main foyer where she could see from the balcony on the top floor of the building. Her eyes peered over the stone barrier and towards the ground floor where a large group poured from an opening in the ground. She found her fellow soldiers and a large Horde contingent exiting the hole, climbing out of the tunnels that ran beneath the building.
It would seem that Lelarii had been successful in gathering the Horde forces together, that was good. If their leader was amicable she was certain she could get them to listen, and if not, she was sure Ichigo could force them to listen.
"Get them situated and bring up whoever is in charge," Iyeana ordered, looking towards a sentry, who nodded and rushed towards the stairs.
With them here they could plan out an offensive much easier, although a direct assault would be out of the question, even with their combined forces they would be overwhelmed within minutes rather than seconds. But once her scouts got back from their search of the outer blocks of the region they could plan something then.
It did not take long for them to be brought to their hideaway, within a few minutes she found twenty three Warsong warriors among her six Sentinels and the two Humans. They were tired, likely their trek here had been quite tiring on them, and she supposed they deserve a small rest before they continued on.
"Lelarii, it is good you returned unscathed," Iyeana said, walking forward and looking over the six sentinels to find not a single one had been harmed.
"Yes, we were fortunate, although the Warsong forces suffered severe casualties before we could rescue them," Lelarii replied. "Had it not been for Ichigo we may have not gathered as many."
"Then it is good he is here then," Iyeana replied, before she turned towards the Warsong party and eyeing those within.
Her eyes landed on two individuals, one who was obviously the leader of this detachment, the Orc had maroon armor and several defining features on his battleplates showing significance of rank. But alongside him was a familiar shaman, Sierra Skychaser, she was someone that Shandris Feathermoon had worked with on many occasions and were on amicable terms with one another.
'This will be much easier than I thought,' Iyeana mused.
Sierra would be the perfect person for her to speak to and ensure that the Orcs fell in line, likely that Sergeant held command but would likely fall under her command if ordered.
"Sierra Skychaser, I am Lieutenant Iyeana Shadewalker," the Sentinel Commander said, approaching her and giving a formal bow to the shaman. "It is good that we reached you in time, had we known you led we would have sent more aid."
"What you sent was enough, a fine group of warriors you have among you, some surprisingly good," Sierra said, smiling as she cast a glance at Ichigo who was off in the corner speaking with Adelina. "But thanks can wait for the moment; we have more important matters to discuss."
"Yes, the temple, entering it will be difficult," Iyeana said, turning and moving to the window that allowed her to see the temple and the ground around it. "The enemy force is large here, and growing in number exponentially every moment that passes. An assault is pointless; we would not survive reaching the temple."
"Infiltration then?" Sierra inquired, looking over the roofs and seeing that the temple had only one viable entrance, the ground that was protected by hundreds.
Entering the temple seemed almost impossible, the enemy had hundreds moving along the highway and many more patrolling around the plaza that the structure sat within. Getting to it unseen was not going to happen, and with the inability to fight to it there seemed to be no viable means to reach the temple. Their only choice was to try and sneak in, but how was the question.
"If we had a way I would gladly go about it, but sadly there is none," Iyeana said, her brow furrowing as she looked at her options.
"I have a suggestion," Codexia said, stepping up between the two. "I know of a way into the temple, specifically the chamber where the Fruit of Fertility is located."
Iyeana looked at her for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the red haired woman, her featured where hidden beneath her blue hood and made it difficult to gauge her intentions. This girl had been someone that Shandris had been concerned about, specifically in her knowledge of the city and also Ichigo. While no proof was present the woman showed extensive knowledge that they did not and that concerned the Sentinel-General.
But the fact she seemed aware that Ichigo's presence was important, that set off alarms in everyone present. None save a few could be aware of what he is, but the fact this girl knew he was more than he seems was not to be taken lightly.
"How do you know of this?" Sierra inquired, looking down at the woman.
"I have researched these ruins for quite some time and have learned of underground routes that traverse much of the city, I happen to know the route that leads into the Temple's base level from the tunnel we entered from," Codexia replied.
"Why did you not inform us of this before?" Iyeana inquired.
"There was no reason to, I only know of some of the tunnels entrances, but not all the routes to take to reach the temple," Codexia said, smiling disarmingly as she brushed off the glare. "Besides we needed to be at full strength before we attempt anything."
But Iyeana did not think it was so innocent, that answer was too quick to be brought up and very well structured, as if she was planning to say it. This girl knew things that she shouldn't, but all of it seemed to be connected to that Felvine, something they would need to be aware of. But for now they had to go along with the plan, they couldn't deviate now.
"Can you lead us through it?" Iyeana inquired.
"Not everyone, I will need a small group, the tunnels are not that large that it can accommodate us all and while I have studied the maps I cannot be sure all the tunnels are stable and safe, it would be better not to bring everyone through," Codexia replied. "A small force can enter and when we find the route we can lead our entire force through."
"It would take too long, we must enter and strike quickly, any delay will only cost us more lives," Sierra said gravely. "Already Morgosh assaults the demons strong points in the north of the city, if we cannot destroy the demons means to reinforce themselves we will not win this battle."
"I may have a way around that," Iyeana said, glancing over towards Ichigo, but her eyes focusing on the brunette mage that stood next to him.
The Shrine of Eldretharr was a massive complex that spanned more than just the tower, but an entire underground repository. Within existed many rooms and chambers dedicated to the specific type of worship, one that despite its nature predated even the druidic practices that were taught to the Night Elves ten thousand years ago.
"This tower was dedicated to nature magic, and controlling the flora of Ferelas," Codexia said, leading five people down the narrow corridor and into the confines of the tunnel that travelled below the tower.
"I had heard that the Elves only practiced nature magic when Malfurion Stormrage was taught by Cenarius ten thousand years ago," Caren said, her brow furrowing as she recalled some of Adelina's tales on her peoples history.
"It is, my people never practiced nature magic before that, always harnessing the arcane," Adelina replies, having no knowledge of this possible long lost art of nature magic.
She knew enough about her people's history to know their philosophies and beliefs even before the War of the Ancients and even before the rule of Azshara. Not once was there any mention or documentation of their people practicing anything related to the druid arts in that time.
"But they did, when this temple was built it was done around a single tree, one that the former occupants of the city practiced with," Codexia replied. "This was the birthplace of the art of Primalism for the Elven race, and one of the few remaining."
"How do you know this?" Adelina inquired, although this Primalism did not seem to be a familiar term.
"I did a lot of research into the Elven lore, mainly those predating the rise of your empire, and I found some interesting information," Codexia replied. "It took a few years but I discovered that the Night Elves may have studied and actually practiced a form of Shamanism before they turned towards the Arcane."
That was a major surprise for Caren and Adelina, to think that there was evidence that the Elves actually practiced a form of Shamanism. While some scholars would note that there is little difference between Druidism and Shamanism, this was mostly discounted due to poor knowledge and ignorance. But in truth both arts were vastly different from one another, just as different as a warlock is to a priest.
Druidism requires a deep connection to the land and environment, actually being able to connect to the world and every living thing in it. This is usually accomplished by having a connection to the Emerald Dream and through it, connect to the world and its flora and fauna. Allowing a Druid to control nature and the spirits connected to it, even changing into animals and speaking to them.
But Shamanism is much more shrouded and difficult to master, due to the sheer dedication to the art and actual personal sacrifice that must be made in order for the individual to actually excel in the path. They must dedicate themselves to their people and the spirits, delving into the spiritual realm and show deep humility and wisdom. For contracting power and aid from the spirits is not easy, it is often difficult depending on the element and if they are willing to listen.
To think that Elves once practiced the latter to some degree was a surprise, considering the way they became with the rise of the empire.
"How could we not know this?" Adelina said aloud, unable to fathom how such important history could be lost.
"It is simple really, when Azshara created the Empire and broadened Arcane teaching the peoples old faiths and teachings were overridden. Also not many Shamanistic arts are retained in writing and scripture, often through teaching and word of mouth," Codexia replied. "Luckily I found some ruins across Ashenvale and the Desolace that proves that the Elves did once perform Primalism."
"Remarkable," Caren said, shocked that something in her eyes as being archaic could have been practiced by the Elves.
"You two understand any of that?" Ichigo asked, hanging back with the two remaining members of their party.
"No idea mon," Rai said, glancing at the three women ahead of him. "I been mostly looking at the gorgeous view of their backsides more than anything."
Ichigo looked at him with a scowl, he did not like the idea that this guy was ogling his friends, and usually that resulted in a quick knock upside the head. However, he couldn't risk any confrontations with these guys, the Horde is highly aggressive and getting on their bad side was not a smart move. So he opted to just glare at the unrepentant Troll who continued to follow their backsides with his eyes.
Although Ichigo glanced back at the Sentinel that had been sent to help them, Filleath her name was. She had been assigned to help really, Ichigo had no idea why they sent her but she seemed very focused on the mission. Although he got the feeling it was mainly to keep them out of trouble, and by them he meant him.
Soon the silence descended on the group as they came to a halt, Codexia motioned above her to find a shaft above them and a stone block. Likely a paving stone that lay within the temple, if that was the case all they had to do was remove it.
"This should be under the temple," Codexia said.
Ichigo stepped forward and through some fancy climbing and bracing himself in the shaft he got some leverage on the edge of the stone and began to push. Lifting it up inch by inch before he got it over the lip, pushing it aside and finding a dim room waiting above him. Taking a peak he found himself in some kind of underground garden, filled with dead trees and plants, along with a few other things he would not mention.
"It's clear," Ichigo said, he pulled himself up and one by one helping everyone else out of the hole.
As they looked around they could see the corruption spreading, the ground was cracked and already decaying from the taint of fel energy. Ichigo winced as he felt the energy within the air, it made him feel nauseated just by being so close.
"I think I am going to be sick," Ichigo said, wincing slightly as the pulsing energies of the room washed over him.
"This place is polluted with Fel energy, this could not have been recent, there have been demons here for a long time," Caren said, narrowing her eyes on the plants and trees that seeped green glowing resin and were warped by the demonic energies.
"From what I learned a Satyr was using the tree to corrupt the forests of Ferelas, but it seems someone is using the tree to power their portals," Codexia replied.
"Where did you find that out?" Caren asked.
"I met an individual before coming here that informed me of the city and its state, he was actually a member of the Shen'dralar, the Highborne," Codexia replied. "But that is of no importance, right now we need to continue on and find out who is responsible for these portals."
"It has to be that Dreadlord, he is the one doing this," Ichigo said, his eyes narrowing as he marched forward. "We need to find that tree now, and stop this."
"Wait, you feel that?" Rai said, his eyes turning down the stone path that sat in the park.
They could feel something approaching, heavy thumps reverberated through the stone and the air. They all quickly glanced at one another and rushed to the nearest cluster of trees and hid from view, waiting as the thundering footfalls drew closer. Within a few moments the source came into view, walking by their cover and appearing to not notice their presence.
"An Ancient," Adelina murmured, watching the lumbering tree pass by.
Its body covered in pale grey bark and dead blackened leaves, green slime and pulsing veins ran up its body. Showing that the corruption of this place had also taken hold of them as well, meaning that the demons likely were controlling them.
"I expected this, the Tree of Fertility is capable of controlling and summoning spirits of the forest, including these Ancients," Codexia said, looking at the creature as it retreated down the long bending path.
"If they have those things in here we won't stand a chance," Caren said, knowing full well that against an ancient their forces would be overwhelmed, especially if there was more than one.
"Do not worry, I know how to fix that," Codexia replied with a smile.
"Yes, but first we need to find the tree and then bring in the reinforcements, not before," Filleath said, looking intently at Codexia, they couldn't risk her doing something without most of their forces present.
"I remember the plan, do not worry," Codexia replied.
Without more being said they moved, going through the park and following the path while looking for a trail that would lead deeper into the temple. They soon learned that this park may actually be a circular pathway that surrounded the main temple; there was always a single slight bend in the pathway they moved through. That mean this park may have been built around the main interior of the structure that sat above on the street.
Then they came to a single breach in the path, a pathway leading towards the interior, only a few minutes from where they had entered. Without waiting they moved through a short hallway and into the interior of the temple, marveling at its size and wonder.
The temple was nearly hollow, a large cylindrical chamber that rose up nearly three hundred feet before forming into a domed roof. Along these walls were many balconies and platforms, connected by stairs and pillars. Several doors and chambers could be seen across the vacant expanse between the sides and much green and red flora could be noticed.
"This is it, we are here," Codexia said, smiling as she took in the remains of the temple.
Ichigo stepped forward and looked over the edge of the stone barrier, finding about twenty meters beneath their level the ground floor. The only noticeable thing there was a large tree that rose up three levels in height and expanded to nearly touch the edge of the balconies, which had a good hundred foot circumference around the room.
Yet the bark was black and cracked, spilling green fel liquid onto the ground beneath it, while red vines moved along its surface and expanded out onto the columns that help support the balconies. He looked up and found that they were actually moving along all the columns and to the very top of the chamber.
"There are vines moving up to the top of the chamber," Filleath said, looking to see the pulsing vines work their way up to the top, before she hissed out a warning. "Get down!"
They all dropped and hid behind the stone barrier, waiting there and allowing for Filleath to keep a look out. Her eyes scanned the balconies above and below, catching sight of many that were moving along them, small patrols of three Felguard each.
"We have patrols on the balconies above and below," Filleath said, dropping down behind the barrier before grasping her bow and pulling it free. "If we want to do this we will need to remove them."
"I will go below with Ichigo and Adelina; I need her for the cleansing and someone to kill the guards," Codexia said.
"Alright, the Troll and mage will come with me," Filleath said. "Kill anything you see, but do it quietly, we cannot allow them to sound any alarm."
They all nodded and shot off, they knew the plan, it was simple yet so difficult to perform without messing up. Ichigo turned to Codexia and Adelina, the latter shifting her form into that of a lithe panther, while the other stepped into the shadows and her form began to darken. For a moment he saw her vanish, as if she was long longer there, but he could see a faint silhouette still present.
It would seem both of them were ready to be stealthy, although when that thought came to mind he had an epiphany. He had absolutely the worst skills in stealth and hiding, most of the time he just attacked and ran from point to point without a thought of keeping his movement quiet. That along with killing these demons quietly, a little hard if you asked him, considering he had a blade as big as he is.
'This might be a little tricky,' Ichigo mused, as he watched Adelina skulked forward and towards the nearest stair well.
With a sigh he followed after her, skill or no skill he had to help in any way he could, they needed him to defend them and that wasn't going to happen if he hung back. So he kept low and followed after her, moving along the barrier and making sure that anyone above could not see them. Reaching the stairs he followed Adelina down slowly, Codexia was nowhere in sight, but he could almost feel that she was close.
He didn't know how, but he could sense her nearby, like she was just in the shadows waiting.
The three Felguard walked forward, one led and two followed just behind, their eyes staring ahead and the only sound coming from them was their greaves striking the stone floor. Until a whistle sounded through the air, and one of the Felguard was struck in the back of the neck, an arrow piercing its throat.
The one next to it glanced to its fellow kin, finding it was choking on the bolt through its jugular. The Mo'arg had no time to speak before it was also pierced, a lance of ice shooting through its back and heart. As they fell to their knees the leading demon turned to see what was the cause of the sudden thump, only to find a troll standing before it.
A blade pierced its heart and another slashed open his throat, leaving it unable to let out anything other than a gurgle before it hit the floor dead.
Rai pulled the blade from the demon's chest and quickly moved to the nearest pillar, glancing around the edge to see the demons on the level above had not noticed. They moved around at irregular patterns and did not cover their blind spots or the ones on the levels above and below, which worked out really well for them. A little waiting and careful planning and they could kill the demons on each level without much issue.
"Clear, move on," Rai said, rushing to the nearest stairwell while the demons above had a majority of their back towards them.
Filleath and Caren quickly rushed up behind him, following him up the stairs and towards the nearest cover, they had only one more level to clear before they reached the top floor. They moved around the terrace, following the path the Felguard took, repeating the same methods they had employed on these demons before.
Within a minute they were at the rear of the patrol, and like before they acted, striking the two at the back and then Rai moving in to kill the lead. I was over within five seconds, and then it was all clear for them.
"We get to the top and we find those portals," Filleath said, rising to her full height and taking the lead this time as they scaled the final set of stairs.
They were long and bent deeply, but they reached the top, a duel set of winding stairs at the very top. The chamber was a small entryway that only served to lead deeper into the temple, but around the room were many archways leading into a larger chamber. Moving to the edges of the archways they glanced out to find that the room was completely barren. Simple stone floors and undecorated walls, in fact the entire tower seemed to be hollow, with only the outer walls being seen and having nothing but windows along the outside to let the light in.
But extra light came from the vines; running along the floor and towards one of four entrances, drawing power from the corrupted tree below. But no guards were seen within, only just a large round room with a roof that extended to the very top of the tower. It would seem that this was only built as a marker for the city rather than anything else.
"Let's move," Filleath said, bursting from cover and moving for the doorway the majority of the vines moved through.
As they reached it they went for cover again, leaning out to see the outer chamber for the temple. It was a long open area that sat just on the edge, large pillars held up the roof and stone garden barricades lined the sides. But there was nothing distinguishable at all, likely only acting as an antechamber for the temple itself.
But they could see the demons milling about; there were many of them, dozens in fact. They were roaming around without direction of command, likely having such a large number nearby that they didn't really consider having routes planned out.
"There are too many of them," Caren whispered.
"We can see that, but still we need to reach those portals," Rai said, it would be their only way to cut off the demon reinforcements and bring their own people in.
"How long would it take you to summon our allies?" Filleath inquired, looking to Caren.
"It could take a minute, I need to create a stable portal within the gate so that it can anchor itself to the one I created in the hideout," Caren replied.
Their plan had been simple; they couldn't move such a large force through the tunnels beneath the city and into the temple unnoticed. So instead they planned to hijack one of the demons portals after they are disabled to bring their entire force into the temple in one fell swoop.
Although finding the portal would be the tricky part, making it work is another issue all together. But if they were quick they could bring in their entire force and decimate the demons with ease.
"I see one, just near the bend," Rai said, pressing hard against the doorway to catch a glance of the portal.
He could see demons moving from it, one at a time, a Felguard came through, and a few seconds later another followed. The demons likely had a dozen of them all over the place, summoning more of their kind onto Azeroth.
"That's good, but still we need to disable the portals, if we don't…" Caren started, but stopped when she heard a quick grinding noise along the stone floor.
Looking down she saw Rai had slashed the vines moving along the ground. Within a few seconds they could hear growls and roars of irritation out in the undercroft. Glancing out they could see the demons were arguing, speaking in demonic and moving close to the portal. The patrols stopped and also moved closer, trying to see what the disturbance was.
"The portals are down, now we kill anything in our way to it and get some help," Rai said.
Caren glanced at Filleath to see she had already notched an arrow and was ready to attack. The young mage sighed before she drew her staff, and with a nod towards the Sentinel to show she was ready. The three charged out of the doorway, moving for the portal where the demons had congregated around. Caren raised her hand and summoned up a ball of fire, gathering the power and releasing it. The explosion was large, encompassing many demons and setting them ablaze, while the rest scattered.
It was then that Rai and Filleath struck, the former charging in and killing any demons still up and able to fight while the Sentinel covered him. Caren ignored it all and moved right for the gateway, a hastily created triangular archway to act as a tether for the portal. Her hand shot up and she began to summon a portal, tethering the breach in space to the stones to maintain it.
Filleath moved close to Caren, covering her up close and shooting anything that got within ten feet of either of them, her eyes looking around for anything. While Rai continued to kill anything coming his way, while also stabbing at the few dead on the ground from the explosion to ensure they stayed that way.
"I've got it!" Caren said, lowering her hand and watching the portal appear.
"Will it hold?" Filleath asked, releasing another arrow, scoring a hit on a Felguard's chest, dropping him to the ground, where it tried to stand.
"It will!" Caren replied, releasing a burst of arcane energy and killing the wounded demon before she turned on the rest.
It did not take but a moment to confirm her statement, the first to step through was Iyeana, appearing and firing off an arrow not a second later. Soon the rest followed, and they began to take the offensive.
Ichigo shouldered Zangetsu as he strolled with Codexia and Adelina towards the tree, and now he could see it how compared to above the canopy of sharp branches. The stone floor was covered in jagged roots and diseased plants, corrupted by the fel energies that pulsed from the tree. But he could make out some strange markings along the base of the tree shaped in a circle.
"Finally, we can begin," Codexia said, moving quickly to the base of the tree. "Adelina, I need you to pour whatever power you can into the tree, it will require a familiar energy to give it the spark to restore itself."
"Understood," Adelina replied.
Both the priest and druid moved to the tree, the former raising her hand and whispering under her breath while the latter waited. They watched in bated breath as the darkness in the tree began to shift and turn, as if something was pulling it. Ichigo watched in fascination as Codexia seemed to be pulling the darkness out of the tree, pulling it like as if it was some kind of material.
'The hell?' Ichigo thought, watching the strange display and feeling a strange sensation as he watched. 'Is that…?'
He couldn't finish the thought before he felt something, a thundering sound from above along with roaring. Looking up Ichigo could not see a damn thing through the canopy, but those sounds were reverberating through the walls and stone. It looks like the rest of his friends were now fighting the demons.
"Ichigo, up there!" Adelina called, pointing to something a few balconies above them.
He couldn't see much through the thick dead branches, but he did see a green glow, someone was up there and casting some kind of spell.
"Damn, there is a warlock up there!" Codexia yelled. "Ichigo, take it out, Adelina can cover me down here. Go and kill them!"
Ichigo nodded before he turned and rushed for the stairs, taking them three steps at a time. He reached the top and moved for the second set of stairs, and then to the next terrace, going from one to the other as he ascended floor to floor. Scaling each terrace one by one unhindered, until he reached the fifth and came across some resistance.
Ichigo ducked under a swing from a Felguard, rolling with the dodge he then shot up and slashed at the demon behind the first. Carving a nice wound through its chest, and then Ichigo turned around and did the same to the first demon as it attempted to face him. With those two down and out Ichigo continued on, rushing to the next set of stairs before he was set upon again.
The Felguard swung down at him with a large maul, it coming down quickly and with force that would easily shatter the substitute's skull and torso. But he sidestepped, allowing the large weapon to shatter the step he was on a moment ago. A swing later and the demon had no head connecting to its shoulders, and Ichigo followed up with three more to his friends that came rushing down to meet him.
'Damn,' Ichigo thought, glancing to the opposite side of the chamber, finding that the demons were flanking on both sides, going for both sets of stairs. 'Hope Adelina can handle those guys.'
He couldn't turn back now, he needed to reach whoever was making that portal and take them out before they brought in a force neither of them could handle.
He glanced up ahead and saw three more Felguard coming right for him, but behind them more tumbled down the stairs. Narrowing his eyes the substitute waited for the demon to raise his axe for preparation, and then he struck. Using Shunpo Ichigo appeared before the demon and impaled him through the chest, before turning on his feet and strafing around the demon, freeing his sword with the turn.
The other two were dispatched quickly, a slash severed ones legs from under him while Ichigo passed by, before giving a merciful death in comparison to the other one. As its head and torso split down the middle Ichigo lunged at the next demon, impaling him through the chest and forcing him down to the ground. Looking up he saw the demon try to stab him, releasing his hold on Zangetsu the substitute stepped to the side and let the blade pass by.
Grasping the blade he swung his fist around and into the demon's elbow, feeling some satisfaction when he heard a distinct crack as the arm bent at an unnatural angle. The demon dropped his sword and let out a pained roar, and Ichigo grasped the hilt as soon as it left the felguard's hand. Swung it around and lodged the length of the blade in the demon's collar, releasing the blade he grasped Zangetsu as the demon hit the floor with a thud.
'Maybe I should get a knife or something,' Ichigo thought, maybe a smaller weapon would help in those situations where he got disarmed or couldn't bring around Zangetsu in time.
Ichigo ignored this and scaled the stairs; he could think about it later, he had to think about dealing with the rest of the demons. He could not move slow or go at a steady pace; he needed to reach that warlock quickly otherwise Adelina would be fighting dozens of demons. A dozen had fallen on the floor below, and another dozen would fall on his way to the next level, he cut down anything that barred his way.
"Dammit, where are those Ancients? That Satyr said the tree controlled them, they should be here!"
Ichigo bound up the steps and to the floor, finding the source of the demonic incursion, an elven woman standing before a green portal. His eyes focused on her, at first he thought she was a Night Elf but her skin tone and height didn't match. It was peach in color and her eyes were glowing green, which along with her purple robes showed that she was not the type of Elf he was familiar with.
That was as far as he got on his inspection when he was forced to leap aside when a Felguard attacked, swinging his axe to decapitate the substitute. Ichigo looked at the demon before he rolled underneath its second attack, coming up behind it and then slashing open it's back. As it feel to a knee he drove Zangetsu right through its torso, at it let out a cry of pain he pushed it off and turned to face the warlock.
As soon as he did however he was knocked back, something colliding with his chest with enough force to throw him off his feet. As he hit the stair handrail he felt a wave of nausea work its way in his stomach, he had been hit by some kind of magical blast. Shaking the dizziness from his head he looked up, and saw another bolt being sent his way.
Rolling to the side he avoided having an extra dose of fel energy. Rising to his feet he engaged another two Felguard in melee, weaving under and around their attacks before striking back. But in the distance he could see the warlock was waiting for a clear shot, her hand raised and bathed in pulsing green fire.
"So you are the interloper, a damn child!" The Elf said, clearly annoyed, something Ichigo shared with the fact she thought him a child and inferior, he was about to show her how wrong she was. "I do not know how you got inside this place or killed all the guards, but you won't change anything! The Felvine is ours and through it the means to summon the legion forces and control the Ancients, there is nothing you can do!"
"You talk a lot, and most of it means completely nothing to me," Ichigo responded, slashing through the Felguard's shoulder.
As the demon fell to its knees Ichigo turned and cut down the other in quick order, slashing through its stomach with a wide slash. He turn gripped Zangetsu with both hands and plunged it into the kneeling demon's heart, as it let out its last breath Ichigo pulled his blade free. His eyes focused on the warlock, shouldered his Zanpakuto, and slowly started walking towards her.
"So give me a reason not to put your sorry ass in the ground?" Ichigo inquired with a glare.
"Heh, you think killing a few demons is going to change anything?" She said, giving a huff of amusement as she smirked smugly, as if defeat was not even a possibility. "We have hundreds above us, and they will be falling onto you and the rest of your friends below soon enough, and that is not even counting the Ancients we have under our control. You are doomed."
"Uh, we took out your portals and are cleansing the tree as we speak so soon those Ancients will be under our control," Ichigo replied, looking at her nonchalantly. "So, what was your backup plan?"
The Blood Elf growled before raising her staff and jabbing it towards the substitute, a flurry of dark bolts sailed towards him. Ichigo took off; rushing the Elven warlock and keeping his blade back, planning on swinging it as soon as he got close. Ducking and dodging from side to side he avoided the projectiles one at a time.
"You think you can stop this! The Legion has brought down millions of worlds and armies in the past hundred millennia! What makes you think that this world will be any different? All you can do now is submit or die! And I intend to survive this and gain more power!" She said, sending out a wave of felfire towards the substitute.
Ichigo saw this and swung up Zangetsu, pressing himself against it and using the flat of the blade as a shield. Hiding himself behind it as best he could he weathered the strike as let it wash over and past him. Ichigo swung Zangetsu around and released a wave of spiritual force; he wouldn't call it a Getsuga Tensho, because if he did he would likely bring the entire level down on him.
The warlock's eyes widened before she hastily summoned up a shield, it shattered on impact and she was blown back and into the wall, where she bounced off and hit the ground with a heavy thud. As she let out a gasp of pain and pushed herself back up to her knees she found a blade waiting of her, aimed for her throat.
"I don't like killing, only do it when I have to, and I definitely don't like killing those I defeat and don't have to kill," Ichigo said, glaring down at the warlock. "Surrender and I won't make certain you can't summon any more demons."
She glared up at him, her eyes burning with green fire; it was obvious that she would not submit to him under any circumstance. Ichigo was not one to simply take a life to make his own easier, but considering the dangers he would be facing he did not exactly think this was a good idea. Maybe just knocking her out will do, if that didn't work he would finish it.
"Sorry about this," Ichigo said.
But he never got the chance before something grasped the end of the terrace; he looked to see a large wooden claw shattering the stone barrier. Then the terrace shook before the stone gave way, Ichigo fell to the side as the floor beneath him buckled and lurched towards the side. As he slid down the stone he found some leverage to see that there was an Ancient there, having pulled down the platform from below.
"Shit!" Ichigo hissed, trying to push himself back as the creature kept trying to tear down the terrace.
As he looked the Ancient tried to climb up onto the falling terrace to reach him, he knew if that happened it would collapse for certain. As he tried to stand however he felt something collide with his back and send him hurtling forward, rolling down to the end of the terrace. Looking up he saw the creature raise its claw to attack him while he was close and vulnerable.
Slashing around he struck the Ancient in the face, forcing its claw to cradle its wounded visage rather than attack. Rolling away Ichigo tried to crawl back towards the top of the terrace before it fell of whatever was keeping it attached to the wall. When he lifted himself up he was blown away and onto his back, his chest heaving, but entire body felt like small blades were tearing into every muscle.
"You think you have won!"
Glancing up he saw the Elven woman there, raising her staff and channeling the dark energies into it. Ichigo rolled to the side as she fired another burst, getting to a knee and grasping Zangetsu with both hands. He turned and swung hard, gathering what energy he could quickly before releasing it right towards the warlock.
Her eyes widened as she staggered aside, barely avoiding the blast that blew apart the wall and dislodged the section of the terrace that had collapsed. The ancient jerked back as the terrace slid back and struck it in the chest pushing it back and forcing it to teeter on the edge. Ichigo saw this, noticing that the corrupted Ancient was hanging on to the column at the end, the same column that kept the platform from sliding off the edge.
'That has to work,' Ichigo thought, raising Zangetsu and planning on bringing that son of a bitch down.
Adelina raised her staff and released a wave of air, blowing back the demons long enough to fire off individual spells to keep them from getting back up. The fighting had begun to intensify the longer time passed on, the Felguards were becoming more numerous and she felt that the only thing she could do now was hold them off rather than defeat them.
'Please Ichigo, kill that warlock and get back down here,' Adelina thought, sweating as she tried to continue to hold back the advancing demons.
But when the world above blacked and was cast into dark, she glanced up to see a massive shadow falling down towards her. Adelina followed it as it just landed on the end of the room, exploding on a shower of stone and force that nearly sent her toppling to the ground.
She raised her arm and shielded herself from the explosion of debris, and when the dust settled her eyes widened to see a large pile of shattered stone and a wounded Ancient. Its body broken in many places and torn, but despite the green fel fluid that leaked from its wounds it did not remain still and let itself die. Instead it slowly rose, its ashen and smeared face turning to regard the druid, and within a minute it had gotten to its massive feet.
"Not good," Adelina mumbled out, moving back away from the Ancient.
Worse yet there seemed to be more demons stumbling over the fallen debris, and a good deal of them as well. She raised her staff and released another wave of air, hoping to keep them back long enough to think of a plan. Summoning anything is pointless, the plants here were already corrupted and all she would do was add more enemies to fight.
"Codexia! Hurry, I cannot hold out much longer!" Adelina cried out, sending a bolt of purple energy at the nearest demon, making it stumble back in a daze for a moment before it continued to advance.
"I need a little more time! Stall them for as long as you can!" The priestess replied, continuing to pull the corruption from the tree as quickly as she could.
Adelina turned back to see the Ancient had its arm raised, ready to take one more step before it attacked. She quickly moved back, hoping to get some distance, yet she knew that she would not be able to get enough distance to come out unscathed. This was going to either kill her or hurt her badly, considering what was about to happen she did not know which one was preferable.
Yet the attack never came, as something fell through the canopy and slammed into the back of the Ancient, causing it to stumble. A roar of pain escaped its lips as it thrashed around, as it turned Adelina could see the cause and her eyes widened at the sight of the individual upon its back.
"Ichigo!" Adelina cried, seeing him holding onto his Zanpakuto that was impaled through the Ancients back.
"Give me a second!" The substitute cried back, pulling his blade free and stabbing it into the creature again, eliciting another roar.
He continued this motion several times, making the Ancient stumble around and smack into anything around it, from the columns and debris, or the unfortunate demons around it. Ichigo continued the brutal assault, not caring for the extra reward his actions were producing, but still his blade did little more than to aggravate the large tree.
As he ripped Zangetsu free he actually was thrown off balance, the rapid twists and turns the Ancient used nearly sent him flying off. He tried to hold on, grasping desperately at the bark and leaves, but they fell apart under his grip and he was sent flying away from the creature. Ichigo hit the ground and rolled several meters before stopping on his knees, giving a shake of the head before he glanced around to see the Ancient lumbering towards him angrily.
"You just do not know when to die," Ichigo said, lifting himself up and channeling his spiritual energy through Zangetsu.
As the Ancient drew close he turned and swung, releasing a near point blank Getsuga Tenshou right into the Ancient's chest. Sending it staggering back a step, before it fell away, bark and sap flying from its body as the force ripped right through it. The explosion was not grand or fiery, but it did its job of breaking apart the corrupted tree's body and leaving it mostly dead.
"Now stay dead," Ichigo said, glaring at the fallen Ancient that simply refused to quit.
"Ichigo! Are you alright?" Adelina called out, rushing to his side.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm good," Ichigo replied, turning to look at her and finding that she was mostly unharmed, nothing but a few nicks and tears in her clothing but nothing serious.
"That is good, I believe that Caren would have struck you had she been here after such a reckless attack," Adelina replied, smiling slightly at Ichigo's annoyed expression.
"Yeah, she doesn't like it when I do anything remotely heroic," Ichigo replied, looking a little annoyed at the comment, and knowing full well that it was true, not that he would admit it.
"If you two lovers are done rekindling your flame I need some help over here!" Codexia called out.
Ichigo sputtered at the comment while Adelina gave no visible reaction other than a surprised expression, it consisted of her raising her eyes brows and that was pretty much it. Ichigo was by far the more comical.
"We are not like that!" Ichigo yelled, feeling his cheeks heat up and yelling at her indignantly.
It wasn't so much as Codexia saying they were dating, but saying they were lovers and basically sleeping together. What kind of person says that aloud? It is completely wrong to say something like that when others are around, even when there isn't anyone else there.
"If you say so! Adelina get ready!" Codexia said.
Adelina looked to the tree to see that the dark bark had become ashen in appearance, as if all black had been drained form its form. Soon the last of it seemed to seep out and into Codexia, leaving a completely white and lifeless tree for all to see.
"Now!" Codexia called.
Adelina raised her staff and channeled what energies she could and released them, channeling the energies into the tree. It took only a moment for the changes to occur, the bark changing from ashen white to a pale brown with green moss.
The three watched in fascination as the life began to spread from the tree and to the roots and flora beneath them, moving along the ground and breaking through the stone. Flowers and vines formed and spread far, as if life had finally freed itself from the vice grip of death. The canopy of dead branches soon was filled with emerald leaves, thick and shielded them from the small amount of light that could shine down into this chamber.
"Incredible, everything is returning to life," Adelina said, looking to the plants that sprung up around her in every direction, it was incredible that so much was growing from so little energy.
But Ichigo kept his eyes on the tree, he could sense it now, something was happening inside it and he recognized the power within.
"Reiatsu,"
He didn't know what the hell it was, because what he was sensing was nothing like anything he had come across before. It felt so strange and abnormal that he had no idea what to classify it as, it just felt there and nothing else, as if it was just power.
'What the hell is in that tree?' Ichigo thought, looking towards Codexia who continued to gaze at the tree, almost transfixed on it. 'Does she know something?'
Before he could call out to her he felt a sudden spike in spiritual pressure, his eyes turned to the tree and saw that the runes along the front of the tree begin to glow. Pulsing a deep pale green and cracks began to form along the bark, breaking away and revealing a deep glowing abyss within. Many shades of green and blue could be seen within, it was hypnotic how they swirled and churned inside. Then something emerged, a large delicate wooden hand grasping the side of the opening and pulling itself out.
Ichigo watched in awe at the being that stepped forth, or more accurately flouted free from the confines of the tree. Its height was easily fifteen feet, and hovered another three above the ground, and beneath it a trail of flowers and leaves followed, growing it its wake.
The most prominent color was green, many shades made up its feminine body, from the bark and woven leaves and vines that made up her dress and clothing she was a sight to behold. Flowers of many kinds and shapes adorned her robes and flowed down her, leaving a sweet fragrance in the air that could be picked up.
Her skin that was exposed appeared to be smooth white bark; her face held some Human like qualities but appeared to be set. Always smiling and having deep sapphire eyes that glowed, along with vine-like markings along her face and a crown of branches.
"I have slept for so long, not knowing the touch of the forest or the people…" She said, her eyes drifting around the chamber she resided within, yet her mouth did not move to show she was speaking. "I can feel the ages that have passed through the stone, through the plants, so long we have slumbered and waited."
Her eyes turn towards the fallen Ancient, she moved towards it and hovered over its broken form before falling to its knees. Its hands roamed over its charred and torn chest, looking it over and seemingly weeping at the poor state of the creature.
"Evil has taken this place, I recall now, the demons have come to take their prize, and used me and my children as puppets,"
Her hands glowed and pressed against the Ancient's wounds, pouring her energy into the fallen spirit of nature, and those who bore witness saw an incredible sight. The tree began to heal, its broken body repairing itself as wood reformed and leaves were rejuvenated, the corruption that once afflicted it being cleansed.
"Incredible," Adelina said, looking on in wonder, never before seeing such powerful magic in her life.
"That thing, it's some kind of spirit," Ichigo said, he could feel the raw spiritual pressure from this thing, it was powerful.
He wouldn't call it a Captain class, as the Shinigami often rank themselves, but this thing definitely had a great deal of power within itself that it could bring forth. Yet he had to wonder why it was in the tree, and exactly what it was.
"Please spirit, this entire city is populated with more Ancients such as these, corrupted and controlled by others to be used in manners most wicked and evil," Codexia said, stepping forward as the spirit of nature rose back to its full height and allowed the Ancient it had healed to stand on its feet once more.
"I feel it now, the plants and grass tell me, that my forests have been corrupted and tainted by demons," she said, a pulse of power emanated from her body, and a wave of new flora began to appear around the chamber.
"Yes, they have tainted this entire city, bathed it in their foul energies and practices, please help us remove them so that this city no longer has to remain this way," Codexia said.
"Yes, let us remove them," the Spirit said, and then a wave of energy began to pulse from the spirit.
As it built Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt the underlying intensity, there was so much power bring drawn out and into her that it was mindboggling. He wondered if she was able to draw in energy around her and then release it, similar to Ishida. He watched as she gathered it close, the raw energies he was feeling were intense, he could feel the spiritual energy ripple along his skin as it brushed over his face.
Then she released it, a massive pulse of energy that shot out and up through the walls and roof of the building.
Those outside could see the energy move up the walls, plants and vines appeared from nothing, growing quickly as they followed the energy to the pinnacle of the tower. Then when it reached its zenith it remained there, gathering more power and force, and when it reached its peak it ruptured and created a massive wave of green translucent light.
Everything beneath it was bathed in light and energy, plants and trees began to regrow as they were rejuvenated. Those wounded were healed and cleansed; even on the verge of death those touched would spring back to their feet and feeling as if in the prime of their lives.
"What is this?" Shandris said, looking out the window to see the pulse encompass everything, the entire city had been touched by this wave.
"It is coming from the East," a Sentinel called out.
"I see," Shandris said, a ghost of a smile on her face as she looked at the tower in the distance. "It looks like they were successful."
"I will not allow them to remain here; my children will aid you in cleansing this city, where demons tread my kin will pursue and destroy," she said, as a thundering crack and boom was heard, looking around they could see vines and plants sprouting everywhere.
The stone walls and balconies broke apart and collapsed, Ichigo grabbed Adelina and quickly used Shunpo, rushing over to what solid cover could be found. As he slid into it he turned back towards Codexia who stood close to the nature spirit, but as he tried to move to get her a shower of debris forced him back.
He watched as everything began to collapse and fall apart within the room, vines and plants began to form and sprout up and move along the walls, tearing down anything that was not strong enough to support it.
"What is she doing?" Ichigo yelled, shielding Adelina beneath himself.
"I think she is trying to create an opening!" Adelina called, looking out from under Ichigo to see her creating many vines and branches along the walls.
Soon the shaking stopped, and Ichigo took a tentative glance beneath the rubble he had hid beneath with Adelina. To his surprise he found the entire room to be filled with the rubble of the fallen terraces, they had all accumulated on the ground floor. Yet even the ground floor had collapsed into even deeper tunnels below, caverns and chambers they did not recognize.
While along the walls were vines and tree limbs, not a single spec of white stone could be seen beneath the thick green vegetation and pale brown bark. Reaching all the way to the roof that had been destroyed and revealing another level above, open and completely impossible to reach for them.
"Now we will rise from the earth," the Spirit of Nature said, and soon from around the room thundering footsteps could be heard.
Ichigo watched from a collapsed section of the wall something appear, his shock showing as it was an Ancient, amber in leaf and deep brown in bark. It came into the room and then began to climb, using the wood and plants on the walls to pull itself up and towards the roof.
Another thunderous stomp drew Ichigo's attention, and again he found another Ancient, pushing itself out of a doorway and turning to begin its ascent to the surface. But it was not alone, many more joined in soon, he could see a dozen of them now, moving up to the surface along the walls. It was incredible to see so many, and that they would be on the surface fighting with their allies soon enough.
"Ichigo… where is Codexia?" Adelina said, moving forward and frantically searching for their comrade that they had lost sight of.
Ichigo rushed forward and tried to locate her, calling out her name as he did, but all he could see was rubble everywhere.
"Codexia! Are you alright?" Ichigo yelled out, looking around for their lost friend.
"I'm alright!" Codexia called out, her shout muffled and hard to locate.
"Where are you?" Adelina called, her head turning as she moved forward slowly, trying to find out where she was.
"I fell into a tunnel! I think I might be trapped!" Codexia replied.
Both Adelina and Ichigo rushed over to where they thought the voice to be, finding a crevice in the earth that had been sealed up by a good deal of rubble. Ichigo leaned down and tried to budge it, but with the way it was wedged he couldn't even move the slab of rock. Excavating it would take hours, there was no way he would be able to get her out of there quickly.
"Dammit, I can't move this thing," Ichigo growled.
"Don't worry! I will search through the tunnels and try to escape!" Codexia called, trying to reassure them that she would be alright. "Get back up to the surface and help everyone! I will try to get back to Shandris and tell her the good news!"
"It will be alright, she will not be alone,"
Ichigo and Adelina turned to the Spirit, finding her hovering near them and giving them that same permanent smile. She hovered over and gestured behind them, towards an Ancient that did not ascend with its fellow kind.
"This one will take you to the surface, he will carry you there," She said. "Please go on and carry out the task before you, I will watch over the one who freed me from the darkness."
"Uh… okay, thanks… miss…" Ichigo said, not exactly understanding on how to speak with something like this.
She seemed to radiate joy and mirth, a scent reached his nose and he felt a feeling just like that, as if she expressed herself through her flowers and smells.
"You may call me Druantia," the Spirit said. "Now go forth young God, face these demons and cleanse this city of the corruption they have laid upon it."
Ichigo did not have time to ask her a single question, let alone speak a single syllable as the spirit dissolved and seemed to enter the earth. The fact she called him a God right now surprised him, especially with how quickly she seemed to have determined exactly what he was.
"How the hell…?" Ichigo started, before a hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts.
"We need to go, they may need us up there," Adelina said.
Ichigo's features hardened as he took a look at the Ancient that waited for them, and he nodded towards Adelina. They both rushed to the Ancient and climbed onto its back, and then it strolled to the wall and began to climb up. The two passengers held on tightly as the walking tree ascended, they had a long battle ahead of them and they needed to focus on that right now more than anything else.
Chromie stood before the Gordok's Seat, the self-proclaimed royal court of the Gordunni Ogres that ruled over the northern sections of the city. It was here that she had sensed the demon; he had killed the Ogre King just a few seconds ago.
Yet when she watched the events play out she could see that something was wrong, to normal individuals they would likely see someone standing there. But for her it was quite different, what she saw was thin air and completely nothing to be seen. But there was more than that.
With her own temporal sight she could see that there was a large influx of temporal energy that was causing a rupture in time. Quite literally it was a tear in the timeline that time did not exist or quite literally work, this was the result of the demon passing through here. From what she had learned the demon in question was known as Abraxus, a Dreadlord who had been instrumental in the creation of the Undead Plague.
"With all this temporal energy it is no wonder none of the lesser agents could get close," Chromie said aloud, watching as the energies caused the very space around it to warp and change, although only she could perceive it.
Still this proved her theory, the Dreadlord existed only in a single point in time, and his past actions and the locations he occupied in time become void as he moves. Meaning he quite literally leaves a hole in time the further along the timeline he goes and the bigger it gets as he moves.
She found them all over the city, this Dreadlord was causing all kinds of hell for them, the ruptures and tears were making this entire city a ticking time bomb. If these cracks were not closed they could cause a massive temporal implosion, quite literally bringing in multiple time streams into their place all at once. Luckily that can be prevented as soon as they remove that demon, erasing him will clear up all this mess.
With that thought she entered the timestream, here she could advance time in this location for herself and find the Dreadlord. All around her she could see strings of time energy moving about, images and events played out around her quickly. But one stood out for her, it was a battle with three Ogres against a Human, Blood Elf, and Night Elf, a major event in the future.
'One that needs to happen, and I will be sure to make it so,' Chromie thought, ignoring all other distractions as she began to play with a single string within the stream.
Pulling it slightly she watched the world around her advance quickly; the faded world seen through the sands that swept around her seemed to speed up. This string allowed her to advance the time in a location, allowing her to move at a specific pace in the timeline, a little rudimentary by their standards but it allowed for accurate precision in getting to the exact right time. Something she needed in order to find the Anomaly.
Since he occupied a single point in time down to the millisecond, she had to use this method very carefully in order to find his exact location in relative time. Also since he seemed to not be moving through time in an abstract sense, that meant he quite literally was bound as any mortal to the flow of time. So as soon as she found him she would be able to lock onto that specific point in time and then he should appear to her.
"I got you now," Chromie thought, smirking as she felt like a hunter who had found their quarry.
But as she shifted through the stream she felt a massive shudder in the timeline, her eyes widened as she felt it. It had been massive; something had occurred that was so big that it dwarfed even what this Dreadlord had done. Her eyes turned to the South East, looking towards the sight of the alteration and when she sensed it and knew what it was her entire body froze.
"Oh no," Chromie whispered.
She knew exactly what had happened, something that shouldn't have occurred even in this altered timeline. Something so catastrophic and bad that the Legion taking this city would only be a footnote in the chaos that would erupt from the alteration caused by her.
"Codexia…" Chromie thought, dreading the chaos that woman would wrought. "But how…?"
Then it hit her, the second anomaly had been missing for weeks now, the exact location of that thing had not been determined because it quite literally had not been making the same waves as the other. It had remained completely hidden, but now it had made a change, one that dwarfed anything the Dreadlord had done.
"She was never meant to survive, not with what she planned to do, what it would cause," Chromie said, looking off into the distance. "She is going to destroy everything,"
There you have it, leaving you with some plot and interesting developments.
Reviews:
RajoSamurai: Damn man you had me worried for a minute there. But to answer your questions you are right that the Zanpakuto can do such a thing as cleanse the undead and free their spirits, unless I come across some lore prohibiting this than that is true. Also Quincy are connected to Yhwach, he is basically Divine in nature but not Holy, Divine doesn't translate into something Holy and Light, it means that his parentage and the Quincy are connected to something Divine.
Yeah, there are many Zanpakuto out there but the Light and Void are universal forces and conceptual things. They are not just something you automatically wield, there are things that tie you to them rather than just having them.
Also don't discount the Spirits of Azeroth, some have the power that can match the Captain-Commander in terms of Raw power and destructive force. As for the Frostmourne and Zangetsu thing, that is up for debate, too little information on it really but it is confirmed that the Lich King is a Transcendent Death Entity. So his powers over death would be massive and powerful, and Frostmourne is a dangerous weapon, research it a bit and you will see.
Kragh50: Thanks.
Guest #1: I did, and I plan to get it no matter what, this is exactly what I need, to confirm everything I need. That book is the key to every one of my Warcraft Stories and I need it. And if more come out, that is even better.
TheFallenGeneral: Yeah, I plan for them to have a meet and greet eventually, they will hate each other so much.
Bucio: Yeah the wiki has been updated a bit and I do try to get them looking nice.
You certainly are picking up on some things and even going back and remembering other key details, I like readers like you, you guys remember little things and how they help build up to something.
Black cross0: Glad you enjoyed it. Also killing demons is one things, but killing random people is another. Remember that killing humans is not something you do just for the hell of it. The Gotei prohibits it for a reason and remember, Shinigami are taught to kill Hollows from behind so they do not see the face of the Hollow, so you do not humanize them. That shows that there is a level of apprehension or resistance when killing humans unless ordered or needed to.
Also you will see that Hollow come along eventually, but in a way that would surprise you.
Krazyfanfiction1: Glad you like it.
Drow79: It is with great regret I know what you are actually referring to.
Leapinglemur: Glad you like it and your OC's appearance. Also I will fix those up later on, sorry for the mistakes. I have checked the page and updated the wiki as well.
Guest #2: Not a dragon sadly, but something else entirely.
Earendil18: Her abilities are unique yes, and later you will see the full extent of those powers.
Meech Macho: Shunpo can work but still moving at such high speeds in a human body now can be dangerous for Ichigo, not only physically but also leaving him dazed for a moment as he tries to recollect his bearings. Yeah, this will give him a means to grow stronger or die, he always does well in these situations. Also I am updating the Wiki and the OC's are mainly standard just to give names to random Sentinels.
Rescue 007: So he should have used a Getsuga Tenshou in the middle of a fortress with innocent people around and in the crossfire. Yeah, that is smart, he totally should have done that. Yeah what a hoe, I mean killing people is easy, stab them through the chest and they die, no biggie right? Not like he has any reason to kill random people that get in his way, they can talk and be reasoned with but no, kill them because he can. And when he is in a situation where he might die he doesn't think of death, that makes sense, I mean he should think what he should have for dinner tonight, totally.
You are a certified genius my friend, genius, write a story. Call it Ichigo is a Badass and let us see how that goes for you, let him kill Kenpachi, Renji and Byakuya when he tries to save Rukia and the Soul Society can love him and get all the chicks, that would be great because he is Ichigo Kurosaki the fucking wonder boy.
Star: True, but really if you are an Archer you don't need armor. But there is a universal law about hot elves and that is that they must wear bikini's.
Mandalore the Freedom: Caren pointed it out but the motive and person behind it is not known. Yeah the tension between them is palpable and for good reason, and I am glad you agree with me on the Harem thing.
Blindluck92: Yeah, the thing about killing is that it is not easy. To depersonalize something makes it easier because you see it as not human. Kind of why Shinigami are taught to kill Hollow from behind if their mask is shattered so you do not see their face.
So you do not see them as human, makes it harder when it goes on. Killing in a battle is one thing, when moving between opponents doesn't give you time to think on this but in slower engagements you can have a thought or two on who you are killing.
Codexia is dangerous, but for certain reasons.
Hope you all liked the chapter and I will see you next time.
